New aquisition. Raleigh Lenton

[Mark Grant]

I picked this up today, a Raleigh Lenton Marque III. 4 speed.
I'm guessing it is '50's? Any info you good folks can give me would be appreciated.
It has a broken friction shifter so identifying that would be helpful, or if anyone has the correct one rattling around in the spares box.....
The saddle is pretty knackered, do Brooks recondition these?

Some more pics here
http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Dub-bus-72/library/Lenton?sort=3&page=1

 

[midlife]

Time casule

Shifter loks like cyclo-benelux

Shaun

 

[mikeymustard]

Lovely, really nice decalcomania, I thought you'd spelt "marque" wrong til I saw the pics

 

[Mark Grant]

Time casule

Shifter loks like cyclo-benelux

View attachment 345213
View attachment 345214

Shaun

Thanks, at least I know what to look for now.

 

[biggs682]

I am jealous that is lovely

 

[Drago]

Seriously pleasant.

 

[raleighnut]

Very nice

 

[stedlocks]

Good find! Probably correct with the 50's guess, but could be earlier. Have a root around 'classic lightweights', there should be some info on there. And yes, cyclo Benelux shifter.....a simplex one should work, as should an early brass sturmey archer.

 

[stevevw]

57 or 58 I think the same as me. I have the Rudge version.

 

[stevevw]

Just had a look at the 57, 58 and 59 catalogues First shown in the 58 catalogue but not in Carmine Red until the 59 Catalogue. I can not remember the the change over dates for the model years but am sure it would be towards the end of the previous year, August comes to mind for some reason.
Have a look here:
http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/library/?action=search&searchtext=raleigh&items=96

 

[Apollonius]

A Benelux mech still in one piece is a rarity. As I recall, they had a clock spring that was inclined to come adrift and fire most of the gubbins into the rear wheel. The Lenton was quite a classic. Desirable!